12:40 Warwick

Thursday 1 October 2020

All12:1012:4013:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

racingtv.com Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 5m 3.40s

Castle Robin^t1²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon

10/3

Point winner who displayed fairly useful form in bumpers last season. Fair start to hurdling career when third at Huntingdon in March and he's open to improvement. Tongue tie fitted.

Form: 5S/1273-

Es Perfecto²³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

9/4

Winning pointer who stuck to the task nicely when third in a good-looking bumper at Kempton in February. Should benefit from the extra emphasis on stamina now hurdling so makes the shortlist.

Form: 4S13-

Hometown Hero²⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

6/1

Dam, unraced, half-sister to bumper winner/very smart hurdler (stayed 3¼m) Cross Kennon. Off mark in Irish points at second attempt in December and has joined powerful yard.

Form: P/1-

Kap Auteuil²⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes

16/1

Brother to high-class chaser A Plus Tard. Runner-up in a bumper for David Arbuthnot but beat only one in similar event for new yard. Offered something to work on over hurdles in March, at least.

Form: 2/65-

Nickelsonthedime²⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Joshua Newman⁽⁷⁾| T: K Woollacott| BF

16/1

Made a promising start for Keith Dalgleish, runner-up twice in bumpers, leaving the impression there could be more to unlock, so he's worthy of interest making his debut for new yard over timber.

Form: 22/3112-

Norman Stanley²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

22/1

Opened his account in bumpers at the third attempt with a fairly useful effort at Bangor but that was well over 2 years ago. Given a considerate ride on last month's hurdles bow.

Form: 351/0

Sakhee's Conquest²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins

200/1

Proved a bit disappointing twice in bumpers after a fairly promising start last year and neve involved on last month's hurdles debut.

Form: 300-9

Tide Times³³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams

11/4

Successful sole start between the flags and showed a bit before weakening in a deep bumper at Newbury in March 2019. Runner-up on hurdles debut in October and that sets the standard, but off since.

Form: 10/2-

Hit The Bottle⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: L Horsfall

150/1

Warm order in the betting when runner-up in a Stratford bumper in July 2019 for Fergal O'Brien. Left that yard after and well held in that race a year later after wind op. Hurdles debut.

Form: 2-7

Strike The Flint¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: M G Nolan| T: Miss S Smith

28/1

Left her Ascot debut behind when making all in a Plumpton bumper in 2018/19. Failed to match that form in 3 runs last season but she probably needed the run on last month's debut over hurdles.

Form: 01/566-6

Non-Runners

The Gold Bug

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: D J Jeffreys J: J J Burke

Forecasts

Es Perfecto (9/4), Tide Times (11/4), Castle Robin (10/3), Hometown Hero (6/1), The Gold Bug (12/1), Nickelsonthedime (16/1), Kap Auteuil (16/1), Norman Stanley (22/1), Strike The Flint (28/1), Hit The Bottle (150/1), Sakhee's Conquest (200/1)

There's depth to this maiden, but HOMETOWN HERO readily accounted for a fair winning hurdler in a point back in December, and having joined Dan Skelton, he should be fully up to speed on this Rules debut. Tide Times sets the standard on his runner-up effort at Stratford a year ago, with Castle Robin another to consider.